This will be the first time in a few years I've been able to attend BEA, Book Expo America, the main convention for the publishing industry at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Last year I was invited, but the show was held on June 5, which is my wife's and my mutual birthday and our anniversary, so that wasn't possible!

Anyway, I've seen some buzz about what I'll be doing at BEA, some of it true, some of it not true, so I thought I'd let you know what's going to be happening:

TRUE:

On Thursday night, May 30, I'll be attending the Disney Publishing annual dinner for booksellers and media with many other Disney authors. This is an invitation-only event, but I will give you a full report afterward and let you know how it went. (Spoiler: it's always awesome fun.)

On Friday, May 31, at 8AM, I will be speaking at the Children's Book & Author Breakfast along with Mary Pope Osborne and Veronica Roth, with Octavia Spencer as master of ceremonies. This is a huge ticketed event that is only open to BEA attendees, not the general public, but again, I will let you know how it goes.

Also true: We will be showing the cover art for The House of Hades for the first time that morning! And yes, soon afterward we will show the cover online so you can all get a look. It's fabulous -- that I promise.

At 10:30AM on Friday, I will be autographing copies of the paperback edition of The Serpent's Shadow at table 15 in the Javits Center. Again, this is open to BEA attendees but not the general public.

NOT TRUE:

I will be doing a public event. Unfortunately, I head back home on Saturday morning, bright and early, and I won't be around to do any events that are open to the public. Sorry about this, but there just wasn't time!

Advanced reading copies of The House of Hades will be available. HAHAHAHAHA. No. Not true. We haven't done an advanced reading copy of a Heroes of Olympus or Percy Jackson book in many years. I don't want anyone to know the story and spoil it in advance, so everyone will be reading the story on October 8 when it is first available, no sooner! So please don't mob the Disney-Hyperion booth asking for copies, because there are none.

Sneak peeks of The House of Hades will be available. Also not true. The first time you'll be able to read a sneak peek from the book will be June 18, if you purchase the electronic single of The Son of Sobek -- details as I blogged earlier. We will post a free sneak peek online a little later in the summer, as we usually do. More details on that when I get them!

Sorry to burst those rumors, but I don't want people to show up at BEA only to be disappointed. It's better to know what is and isn't happening in advance. My next public appearances will be during the week of October 8, when The House of Hades is released. It's way too early to know where Disney will be sending me, but when I get the tour information I will share it with you.